Things to see and do Hanoi

Tours in Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia. Good value for money.

Organizes guided tours of the capital by motorcycle (with a driver). Several tours in the surroundings of Hanoi (Bat Trang ceramic village, Perfume pagoda, Tam Dao...) or towards more distant destinations (discovery of the North in 8 or 11 days). Also, motorcycle rental (big bikes). The itineraries and accommodations in the villages of the minority ethnic groups in the heart of the mountainous areas have been carefully selected in order to offer conditions conducive to the discovery and pleasure of the trip.

The company Hai Au Aviation organizes flights over the capital, Hanoi, and Halong Bay by seaplane (Cessna Caravan, 12 seats). Landing (or take-off) in/from the marina of Tuân Châu Island. Also, possibility to choose a 2 in 1 formula, with seaplane flight over the bay and cruise. Rates, packages and tours are available on the website which proposes attractive promotional offers. The company also provides charter flights to more than 20 destinations throughout Vietnam.

There's no better way to discover the Trang An landscape complex than by boat! Make your way to the purpose-built pier, where you'll find a beautiful pagoda-like building on a peninsula, surrounded by thousands of boats. Choose how you'd like to visit: simply the boat ride, or a combo with different visits to different sites. Grab your ticket, then hop aboard a canoe for a peaceful cruise.

The Ha Noi Urban Adventures team was formed in 2007. It is composed mostly of Vietnamese and some Westerners. The guides are dynamic and provide an efficient and personalized service. There is a large choice of tours to consult on the website. On the program, the visit of Hanoi and its historical sites, on foot or by bike, the gastronomic tours, or for more tranquility, the surrounding villages or the Halong Bay. Possibility to privatize the visits. A nice way to discover Hanoi and its surroundings.

Since 2013, this agency has been offering tours of the city aboard a Vespa, the famous Italian scooter, piloted by women all dressed in pink Ao Dai, a traditional costume. Several tours are available: the Hanoi Vespa City Tour is a half-day tour of the city's must-see sites, the Hanoi By Night Street Food Tour accompanies visitors to explore the capital's gastronomy, and the Hanoi Vespa Countryside encourages discovery of Hanoi's rural surroundings, with farm visits and a crossing of the Long Biên Bridge.

The temple of Kim Liên was built under Emperor Ly Thai Tô to worship Cao Son, one of the children of Lake Long Quan and Au Co, mythical ancestors of the Vietnamese people. It is said that in 1509, the Tong Duc, on the way from the Thanh Hoa to'his half brother Le Huy Muc, a cruel and débauché sovereign, stopped at the temple to obtain the support of Cao Son. He succeeded in his company and restored the prestige of the Buddhist dynasty by proclaiming himself emperor. This episode gave great prestige to the temple now protected by the new emperor. The temple of Kim Liên is dedicated to the cult of Cao His genius for the South.

Just 25 km south of the town of Ninh Binh and close to all the province's tourist attractions (Hoa Lu, Tam Côc, etc.), Non Khê is a small village of just a few thousand souls, where you can immerse yourself in local life. Here you'll find everything that characterizes a traditional village of the Red River delta: rice fields as far as the eye can see, red brick streets, small houses flanked by their vegetable gardens, the communal house (dinh), temples and pagodas, the central market, close relations between neighbors, the spirit of the clan...

At the top of Mount Câu Lâu, the pagoda is reached by a steep staircase where the ascent is made difficult by the irregular succession of laterite steps, blunted by time. The foundation of the pagoda would go back to the 8th century but it has undergone successive reconstructions: in 1632 (a stele mentions the work carried out) and, in 1794, during the reign of the Tây-Son, then after the bombings of 1954. The pagoda is known for its collection of jackfruit wood carvings, red and gold lacquered, including the famous 18 arhats.

Hanoi-based agency promoting responsible, environmentally-friendly tourism. Handspan Travel Indochina organizes 3-day escapades departing from Hanoi to explore the Mai Châu Valley and the Pu Luong Nature Reserve ("Mai Chau vs Pu Luong Nature Reserve"). On the program: overnight stays in traditional houses, cycling in the valley, treks, discovery of minority life, introduction to tea cultivation and breathtaking natural panoramas.

Outside, presentation of anti-aircraft weapons and a B -52 carcass.